"Your sincere friends, "SAMUEL F. B. MORSE, "JAMES MCKAYE, "JOHN MUNROE, "EMORY MCCLINTOCK, "CHAS. S. P. BOWLES, "And many others." "PARIS, _March 1, 1867_. "_My dear Sir_,--Singular as it may seem, I was in the midst of your speech before the Chamber of Commerce reception to you in New York, perusing it with deep interest, when my valet handed me your letter of the 27th ult. "I regret exceedingly that I shall not have the great pleasure I had anticipated with other friends here, who were preparing to receive you in Paris with the welcome you so richly deserve. You invite me to London. I have the matter under consideration. March winds and that _boisterous Channel_ have some weight in my decision, but I so long to take you by the hand, and to get posted up on telegraph matters at home, that I feel disposed to make the attempt.... "With unabated respect and esteem, "Your friend, as ever, "SAMUEL F. B. MORSE. "CYRUS W. FIELD, Esq., Palace Hotel, London." The next letter is from the Speaker of the House of Commons: "HOUSE OF COMMONS, _March 12, 1867_. "_Dear Sir_,--The last few hours before your departure will be too much occupied for me to intrude upon them. I should have been glad to have thanked you (I might have ventured to have done so in the name of the House of Commons) for the services you have rendered to this country, as well as to your own. "I offer you my best wishes for a safe and prosperous voyage. "Believe me "Faithfully yours, "J. EVELYN DENISON. "C. FIELD, Esq., Palace Hotel." The next is from the Prime-Minister: "ST. JAMES SQUARE, _March 17, 1867_. "_Sir_,--Understanding that you are on the point of returning to the United States after a short visit to this country, I am anxious to take the opportunity of saying to yourself, what in the Queen's name I was authorized to write to the chairman of the banquet in the autumn at Liverpool, how much of the success of the great undertaking of laying the Atlantic cable was due to the energy and perseverance with which, from the very first, in spite of all discouragements, you adhered to and supported the project. Your signal services in carrying out this great undertaking have been already fully recognized by Congress, and it would have been very satisfactory to the Queen to have included your name among those on whom, in commemoration of this great event, Her Majesty was pleased to bestow British honors, if it had not been felt that, as a citizen of the United States, it would hardly have been competent to you to accept them. As long, however, as the telegraphic communication between the two continents lasts your name cannot fail to be honorably associated with it. "Wishing you a safe and prosperous return to your own country,